Startup World Cup 2026 held in Santo Domingo

The Startup World Cup 2026 arrived in Santo Domingo on October 13, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and executives at the Hotel Jaragua. Organized by Innovation Smart District (ISD) in partnership with Silicon Valley-based Pegasus Tech Ventures, the event focused on competition, conferences, and panels regarding artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital transformation.

Ten finalist startups presented their business models to a jury of investors and business leaders. The winner of the Dominican Republic edition earned a spot to represent the country at the international Startup World Cup final in San Francisco, where they will compete for a US$1 million investment.

The event is part of the Startup World Cup ISD Tour 2026, a tour connecting ecosystems across 14 countries, including Mexico, Spain, Brazil, and Colombia. Guillermo Malo de Molina, COO of ISD, stated that the competition aims to democratize access to venture capital and project Latin American talent toward international markets.